02.08. Of the first degree of love

8. Of the first degree of love

Loveis one of the fournaturalaffections, which it is needless to name since everyone knows them. And becauseloveisnatural, it is only right tolovetheAuthorofnaturefirst of all. Hence comes the first and greatcommandment, “Thou shaltlovetheLordthyGod.” Butnatureis so frail andweakthat necessity compels her toloveherself first; and this iscarnallove, wherewith manloveshimself first and selfishly, as it is written, “That was not first which isspiritualbut that which isnatural; and afterward that which is spiritual” (1 Corinthians 15:46). This is not as thepreceptordainsbut asnaturedirects: “No man ever yethatedhis own flesh” (Ephesians 5:29). But if, as is likely, this sameloveshould grow excessive and, refusing to be contained within the restrainingbanksof necessity, should overflow into thefieldsof voluptuousness, then a command checks theflood, as if by a dike: “Thou shaltlovethyneighboras thyself’. And this is right: for he who shares ournatureshould share ourlove, itself the fruit ofnature. Wherefore if a man find it a burden, I will not say only to relieve his brother’s needs, but toministerto his brother’spleasures, let himmortifythose same affections in himself, lest he become atransgressor. He may cherish himself as tenderly as he chooses, if only he remembers to show the same indulgence to hisneighbor. This is the curb oftemperanceimposed on thee, O man, by thelawoflifeand conscience, lest thou shouldest follow thine ownluststodestruction, or becomeenslavedby those passions which are theenemiesof thy true welfare.Farbetter divide thine enjoyments with thyneighborthan with theseenemies. And if, after thecounselof the son of Sirach, thou goest not after thy desires but refrainest thyself from thine appetites (Sir 18:30); if according to the apostolicprecepthavingfoodandraimentthou art therewith content (1 Timothy 6:8), then thou wilt find it easy toabstainfrom fleshlylustswhichwaragainst thesoul, and to divide with thy neighbors what thou hast refused to thine own desires. That is a temperate andrighteouslovewhich practices self-denial in order toministerto a brother’s necessity. So our selfishlovegrows truly social, when it includes our neighbors in its circle. But if thou art reduced to want by suchbenevolence, what then? What indeed, except topraywith allconfidenceunto Him who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not (James 1:5), who openeth Hishandand filleth all things living with plenteousness (Psalms 145:16). For doubtless He that giveth to most men more than they need will notfailthee as to the necessaries oflife, even as He hathpromised: “Seek ye theKingdomofGod, and all those things shall be added unto you” (Luke 12:31).

God freely promises all things needful to those who deny themselves for love of their neighbors; and to bear the yoke of modesty and sobriety, rather than to let sin reign in our mortal body (Romans 6:12), that is indeed to seek the Kingdom of God and to implore His aid against the tyranny of sin.

It is surelyjusticeto share ournaturalgiftswith those who share ournature. But if we are toloveour neighbors as we ought, we must have regard toGodalso: for it is only inGodthat we can pay thatdebtoflovearight. Now a man cannotlovehisneighborinGod, except heloveGodHimself; wherefore we mustloveGodfirst, in order toloveour neighbors in Him. This too, like all good things, is the Lord’s doing, that we shouldloveHim, for He hath endowed us with the possibility oflove. He whocreatednaturesustains it;natureis so constituted that itsMakeris its protector for ever.

Without Himnaturecould not have begun to be; without Him it could not subsist at all. That we might not be ignorant of this, or vainly attribute to ourselves the beneficence of our Creator,Godhas determined in thedepthsof Hiswisecounselthat we should be subject to tribulations. So when man’sstrengthfailsandGodcomes to his aid, it is meet and right that man,rescuedby God’shand, shouldglorifyHim, as it is written, “Call upon Me in the time oftrouble; so will I hear thee, and thou shaltpraiseMe” (Psalms 50:15). In suchwiseman,animalandcarnalbynature, andlovingonly himself, begins toloveGodby reason of that very self-love; since helearnsthat inGodhe can accomplish all things that are good, and that withoutGodhe can do nothing.